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Psychiatric morbidity in patients referred for individual psychotherapy within and outwith the NHS

Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside, Edinburgh EH10 5HF

^* Correspondence

Aims and method Demographic and medical characteristics of waiting list patients for National Health Service (NHS) psychotherapy, non-NHS psychotherapy or NHS general adult psychiatry were compared by postal questionnaires.

Results One hundred and eighty-three subjects replied. High rates of psychiatric morbidity were reported in both psychotherapy populations but general psychiatric referrals were more disturbed, taking more psychotropic medication than non-NHS psychotherapy but not NHS psychotherapy subjects. The biggest referral source to non-NHS psychotherapy was general practitioners.

Clinical implications Non-NHS psychotherapists should be able to recognise severe mental illness and have a basic understanding of psychotropic medication and psychiatric services.